These Heartwarming Stories From Red Cross Volunteers In Lebanon Will Make Your Day

Main picture credit: Mohammad Azakir

For the past month, Lebanese Red Cross volunteers have regularly hit the streets to collect donations as part of their annual fundraising campaign for World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day.

Despite it being tiring, challenging, and sometimes overwhelming, all volunteers agree that their work is well worth it, especially with all the heartwarming stories they have to share. Here are a few:

1. “Someone donated $100 and told us that the Red Cross saved his brother’s life.”

2. “A cab driver once stopped and asked his passenger if he can pay him right then. Then he put 1,000 L.L. in the box and said ‘hayde awwal rez2a lyoum, nossa elkon w nossa ele’.”

3. “I was taking a break with another volunteer, and we were sitting on the side of the road next to a sweets shop when two workers came out and gave us knefe. They thanked us for our service, it was very heartwarming.”

4. “An old lady asked her son to stop driving, got out of the car, donated, and told us that we saved someone dear to her and nothing can repay that.”

5. “My shift was next to Café Younes, the employees kept checking up on me and offering me a free meal and drink.”

6. “A woman once donated, then went into McDonald’s and bought two big Macs for me and my friend. She didn’t get anything for herself, she only went into McDonald’s to get us food. Super sweet.”

7. “There was this little girl who was looking at me like I’m some kind of hero, and she was so excited to donate. After I gave her the sticker, she opened a little notebook and added it to her collection of six stickers, she was so proud of it.”

8. “An old man donated and then stood next to us and started reciting prayers for us, asking God to protect us because we once saved his life”.

9. “A woman drove past us and I think she didn’t notice us, so once she did, she made a U-Turn and drove in a full circle just so she can come back and donate.”

10. “A man in his car donated and drove off to a red light, then we saw that his two kids in the backseat were crying and throwing a tantrum because they didn’t put money in the box. So, he called for us to go and meet him; his kids were happy they got to donate.”